March 14, 2021
The Straits Times illustration.
Adam Lee
One of the more novel aspects of Budget 2021 was the announcement of green bonds, an eco-friendly type of financial instrument.
The green bonds aim not only to help the government finance green infrastructure, but also have the goal of turning Singapore into a green finance hub.
So what exactly is this new type of bond? And can you buy them like Singapore Savings Bonds? Here are 4 burning questions we have.
1. Why are green bonds suddenly a “thing” now?
In recent years, the government seems to have gone from being non-fans of plastic bag charges to talking about turning Singapore into a leader in sustainability.
December 19, 2020
The Business Times
While it s great to have a savings account, it s not news that typical savings account interest rates are quite low, making it tough to make a considerable return by just having your money lie there.
Whether you have a lot of savings or not too much, there are several ways you can put your money to work to plan for your future. We listed four great ways to grow your savings faster in a little-to-no-risk environment.
1. Open a Regular Savings Plan account
Regular Savings Plans (RSPs) are great for those looking for high returns over a short period of time. This is because the money that you put in monthly is invested into the stock market, so both your account and the interest earned on it grow in tandem.
Have a spare US$500 (S$670) lying around? Why not park it in an ICBC fixed deposit account for 12 months and let it earn 0.75 per cent p.a.? Rates for non-fresh-funds above U$100,000 aren’t shabby either, drawing an interest rate of 0.70 per cent p.a. for the same period of time.
Frequently asked questions
What are the requirements to open a fixed deposit account?
If you are an existing account holder, you will have to log in to the bank’s internet banking platform to open a fixed deposit. If you do not have an existing account with the bank, you might be required to open an account. This would require the following: